KARACHI, March 6: Around 2,000 sportspersons across the province will be rubbing shoulders with each other when they assemble at Mirpurkhas for the 15th Sindh Games which takes place from March 30 to April 1.

The games, fourth-in-a-row under present government, will be held in 33 disciplines for men and 14 for women. In addition, exhibition events for disabled people, a T-20 exhibition match and a mini marathon have been added to the list.

The details were announced by Sindh Sports Minister, Dr. Mohammad Ali Shah, at a press conference that was held to unveil the colourful logo of the games at Karachi Gymkhana on Tuesday.

Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs, Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui, Aftab Khatri, designated secretary sports, director, Sindh Sports Board, Zulfiqar Shilwani and secretary, Sindh Olympic Association (SOA) Ahmed Ali were also present. Dr. Shah, who also heads the SOA, said the proposed budget is being worked out but it is learnt that amount of 15 million rupees has been allocated by the government for the holding the provincial Olympics.

“We are promoting cricket and the game has become a medal sport in Asian Games, though it’s the job of the PCB to do the promotion,” he said adding that there’s likelihood that cricket’s shorter version may be included in Olympics in the future.

According to the facts and figures, Hyderabad and Karachi will field 391 athletes each, Larkana and Sukkur 377, and hosts Mirpurkhas 400, including nine disabled.

He said the games promote friendship and engage the youth in healthy activities.

The minister said a sum of rupees 1,250 will be provided to all participants as daily allowance at the rate of Rs250 for five days including a day before and after.

Responding to a question as to whom he has nominated as organising secretary, he said: “The SOA secretary and director SSB will jointly serve the purpose.”

He further said that like previous practice, all the participants of the games will be insured.

Disciplines: Men: Athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing, cycling, football, gymnastics, hockey, tennis, table tennis, volleyball, weight lifting, squash, handball, wushu, taekwondo, judo, throwball, softball, shooting ball, netball, wrestling, muaythai, kabaddi, chess, wanjh watti, malakhara, kodi kodi, body building, karate, sepaktahraw and ju-jitsu.

Women: Athletics, badminton, tennis, taekwondo, hockey, judo, karate, table tennis, basketball, throwball, volleyball, arms wrestling, netball and handball.